Winning their last three games by an average margin of 25 points, the Tigers looked headed for yet another dominating run but tapered off in the end and settled for the six-point victory.
"We have a tough stretch ahead of us, so after getting a comfortable lead in the third quarter, we decided to give our regular starters long minutes on the bench," said Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes.
"We’re flying to Dumaguete (today) to play Alaska Saturday and we know how tough a team Alaska is on the road. Upon our return from Dumaguete, we play Sta. Lucia Wednesday and San Miguel Sunday. That’s really a hard stretch," Reyes added.
The Tigers poured it on in the first 35 minutes of play, erecting a 23-point spread which served as cushion against the Express rally in the stretch.
Coca-Cola, thus, solidified its hold of second place behind Red Bull (4-0) with a 4-1 win-loss card while keeping FedEx winless in five outings.
"We have accomplished our target in the first half of the elims and we’re pretty happy but we still have some work to do," said Reyes.
FedEx moved on the brink of elimination on its fifth straight defeat. It may need to sweep its last four games versus Ginebra, Sta. Lucia, Shell and Red Bull to gain a shot at the quarterfinals.
Though playing limited minutes this time, Jeffrey Cariaso still delivered huge numbers with 18 points, five rebounds and two assists against only two turnovers.
Poch Juinio and Ato Morano scored in double-figures coming off the bench even as the team’s four other starters – William Antonio, Johnny Abarrientos, Rudy Hatfield and Rafi Reavies combined for 30 points.
FedEx’s own starters Renren Ritualo, Vergel Meneses, Ryan Bernardo, Gerry Codiñera and Wynne Arboleda scored 63 points among themselves. But the rest of the team added only six.
Probably in an effort to give Arboleda a chance to redeem himself from his big boo-boo the last time out, FedEx coach Derrick Pumaren started with the former MBA player at pointguard spot. But Arboleda kept his fumbling ways, committing four turnovers in the first four minutes of play.
By the time Pumaren sat down Arboleda, the Tigers had darted to a 15-6 lead.
Arboleda fired six points, helping the Express stage a daring rally in the fourth quarter. Alas, when the team came within striking distance of Coca-Cola, 67-73, Arboleda muffed shots that could have made the game closer. — Nelson Beltran